Candlemass is one of the founders of modern doom metal and therefore one of the most influential metal bands in history. The band was formed in 1985 by Leif Edling (who has always been the main songwriter) when he left his old band Nemesis. Influenced by bands like Black Sabbath and Mercyful Fate they created a whole new sound previously unheard. It was when Messiah Marcolin, a trained opera singer with a very powerful voice, joined the band that their music started gaining a very strong fanbase. During live shows Marcolin used to dress in monk clothing. Before the recording of their sixth album he left the band and their music was not so much dominated by the old doom sound anymore. Soon after that Edling decided to dissolve the band and he formed the more power metal influenced Abstrakt Algebra. Later on he reformed Candlemass with a completely new lineup and released "Dactylis Glomerata". The new Candlemass sound is not very similar to that of the old days and some old fans have been replaced with new ones. After having recreated the classic line-up of Edling, Marcolin, Björkman, Johansson and Lindh for a live show at the "Black Lucia" Christmas party held by the Swedish magazine Close Up in Stockholm on December 13th, 2001, the band did several live appearances but once again folded (for good?) in May 2004 for unknown reasons. In November they reunited once again and soon entered world famous Polar Studios (Abba, Led Zeppelin etc.) in Stockholm to record a new album. In January 2005 they signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast.
Candlemass, with Messiah Marcolin on vocals, performing "Samarithan" live at Fryshuset, Stockholm, Sweden in 1990. Available on their "Documents of Doom" DVD.
CANDLEMASS
